Russian Envoy to UN: ISIL in Syria Supplied with Arms by Foreign Agencies

TEHRAN (FNA)-"We have amassed evidence that weapons are being smuggled [to Syria] from outside, including through semi-legal organizations or even under protection of security agencies from other countries," he told the United Nations, Sputnik reported on Friday.

Nebenzia said Russia planned to discuss ways of putting an end to weapon deliveries to ISIL at an international conference on combating illicit arms trafficking, scheduled in Moscow on September 3-4.

The diplomat waned that the militants were about to step up inroads into government-controlled territories, primarily near the northwestern city of Idlib. He added ISIL did not shy away from using children to stage terror attacks.

Nebenzia also said Russian armed forces had helped free over 1,400 towns and villages in Syria and bring over 96 percent of its territory back under government control, securing the return of over 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

Nebenzia noted that Al Qaeda can fill the vacuum in Syria left by retreating ISIL fighters and become a major obstacle to the ongoing peace process.

"Our assessment is that Al Qaeda and its allies make take the initiative, becoming an obstacle to a peaceful settlement in Syria, as ISIL continues to crumble," he said.

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